Posted by Doug Whitten on March 03, 2003 at 11:43:42:
In Reply to: Re: new thread - old topic ( NOT BBb vs. CC) posted by GC on March 03, 2003 at 11:09:35:
Well said. The link between music and math scores is a usefull bullet in our arsenal aginst possible program cuts. However, music educators need to be carefull to not let these type of arguments become the rationale for their program. If we don't emphasize that music is worthwhile for its own sake, then we are doomed politically. The fact of the matter is that if higher math scores is the goal, then any teacher will tell you that more time spent on math will have a greater effect than a music class. Indeed, to add more time on task in math would mean cutting time away from another activity, and this would likely come from the arts.
By the way, PE is being cut back at least as much as music in many schools. In some states, elementary students get only 50 minutes of PE per week. Given the growing obesity in our culture, this is a problem too. I really wish that our legislators understood that a healthy mind, spirit, and body is more important than filling in the right bubble on a high stakes test.